Pandji Tisna

Anak Agung Pandji Tisna (11 February 1908 – 2 June 1978), also known as Anak Agung Nyoman Pandji Tisna or I Gusti Nyoman Pandji Tisna or just Pandji Tisna, was the 11th generation of Padji Sakti dynasty of Buleleng, Singaraja, in the northern part of Bali, Indonesia. He succeeded his father, Anak Agung Putu Djelantik, in 1944.

On the last page of Pandji Tisna's book "I Made Widiadi" written in 1955, he wrote his life-story chronologically, that he was a writer and novelist. He refused to be king of Buleleng, but being the eldest son, the Japanese occupancy troops forced him to be "syucho" after the death of his father in 1944.

During his reign, he became the leader of the Council of Kings of all of Bali from 1946-1947 ("Paruman Agung") and became the Regent of Buleleng. He was also unique because he became member of the Christian faith on a predominantly Hindu island.

Being a Christian, Pandji Tisna realized he did not fit or proper being king of Buleleng, which was predominate by Hindu. In 1947 he surrendered the throne to his younger brother, Anak Agung Ngurah Ketut Djelantik or I Gusti Ketut Djelantik, also popular as Meester Djelantik, until 1949.

He died 2 June 1978, buried in the graveyard on the Eastside of his land near the chapel he built years before.

Early years

Anak Agung Pandji Tisna was born to Anak Agung Putu Djelantik and his wife Jeo Mekele Rengga.

Pandji Tisna received his formal education in Primary School in Singaraja and continued his education in Middle School in Batavia.

Career

Pandji Tisna is best known as a novelist. His novels, which all took place in Bali, especially in Singaraja, his place of birth, were published by Balai Pustaka. Many of his short stories were placed in "Terang Bulan" magazine which was published in Surabaya. He also took his time to write poems, such as "Ni Poetri", which was published by Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana in "Poedjangga Baroe" magazine in Jakarta.

Pandji Tisna had a varied career as a merchant, secretary to his father, Headmaster of Elementary School, Editor of Jatayu magazine, and farmer, before succeeding to the throne on the death of his father on 25th July 1944. He was Chair of the Balinese Council of Kings from 1946 - 1947, but abdicated in favour of his brother in 1947.

He was a member of the Provisional Parliament of the State of East Indonesia from 1946-1948.

Development of the Balinese tourist industry

Pandji Tisna is also remembered as a pioneer of Balinese tourism, especially in the northern beach district. In 1953, he chose Desa Tukad Cebol (now Desa Kaliasem (Kaliasem Village) as his holiday home. There, he wrote and received both local and foreign guests. He named his holiday home "Lovina", which is an abbreviation of words "Love Indonesia". He then also built several guest houses in the western coast in Buleleng. The whole area then became known as Pantai Lovina or Lovina Beach in English. Because of that, he is accredited as "The Father of Balinese Tourism". In 2003, the Balinese government posthumously awarded him the "Karya Karana Award" in recognition of his services to the development of Balinese tourism.

Conversion to Christianity

Pandji Tisna converted to Christianity during the Japanese Occupation of Indonesia, as a result of imprisonment by the Japanese in Singaraja. The arrest occurred in response to the actions of his wife, Jero Mekele Seroja, in drying a Dutch flag which raised suspicions that Pandji Tisna was a Dutch loyalist. These suspicions were aggravated by the fact that a Bible in Dutch language, which was a gift from his younger brother, Djelantik, was found in his room.

Pandji Tisna was arrested and imprisoned in Singaraja. He was released with the help of Miora, a Christian spy. After his release, Pandji Tisna vowed to study the Bible and become a Christian with the help of a Christian priest, A.F. Ambesa. In the following year, Pandji Tisna was baptised as a Christian.

Family

Pandji Tisna had four wives, i.e. Anak Agung Istri Manik, (with whom he had two sons), Ni Ketut Mayas (Jero Mekele Seroja) (with whom he had two sons), Luh Sayang (Mekele Sadpada) (with whom he had four sons and two daughters), and Jro Mekele Resmi (with whom he had ten sons and three daughters).

Major works

*"I Made Widiadi (Kembali kepada Tuhan)" (1955)
*"I Swasta Setahun di Bedahulu" (1938)
*"Sukreni Gadis Bali" (1936), this work was firstly published in Balinese language. It has subsequently been translated into other languages with the following titles:
**"Bali Taruniyan Dedenekuge Kathawa", a Sinhala language edition, a translation by Dr. P. G. Punchihewa.
**"The Rape of Sukreni", an English edition, a translation by George Quinn.
*"Ni Rawit Ceti Penjual Orang" (1935)
**"Panglajar Djadi Tjoelik" a Sundanese 1940 edition, a translation by Soerjana.

References

*"Modern Indonesian Literature, vol. I", by A. Teeuw. 1979.
* [http://www.balipost.co.id/BaliPostcetak/2005/8/13/b17.htm Biographical Article "(Indonesian)"]
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Indonesia/buleleng.htm History of Buleleng Dynasty]
* [http://buleleng.com/ Buleleng Website "(Indonesian)"]

Further reading

*"The Last King of Singaraja, Bali" by Prof. I Gusti Ngurah Gorda.
*"Warna Lokal Bali dalam Sukreni Gadis Bali Karya Anak Agung Pandji Tisna" by Made Pasek Parwatha.